Substrate and method for measuring the electrophysiological properties of cell membranes

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a substantially planar substrate for use in patch clamp analysis of the electrophysiological properties of a cell membrane comprising a glycocalyx, wherein the substrate comprises an aperture having a rim, the rim being adapted to form a gigaseal upon contact with the cell membrane. The invention further provides a method of making such a substrate and method for analysing the electrophysiological properties of a cell membrane comprising a glycocalyx.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention provides a substrate and a method for determiningand/or monitoring electrophysiological properties of ion channels in ionchannel-containing structures, typically lipid membrane-containingstructures such as cells, by establishing an electrophysiologicalmeasuring configuration in which a cell membrane forms a high resistiveseal around a measuring electrode, making it possible to determine andmonitor a current flow through the cell membrane. More particularly, theinvention relates to a substrate and a method for analysing theelectrophysiological properties of a cell membrane comprising aglycocalyx. The substrate is typically part of an apparatus for studyingelectrical events in cell membranes, such as an apparatus for carryingout patch clamp techniques utilised to study ion transfer channels inbiological membranes.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Introduction

The general idea of electrically insulating a patch of membrane andstudying the ion channels in that patch under voltage-clamp conditionsis outlined in Neher, Salanann, and Steinback (1978) “The ExtracellularPatch Clamp, A Method For Resolving Currents Through Individual OpenChannels In Biological Membranes”, Pfluiger Arch. 375; 219-278. It wasfound that, by pressing a pipette containing acetylcholine (ACh) againstthe surface of a muscle cell membrane, one could see discrete jumps inelectrical current that were attributable to the opening and closing ofACh-activated ion channels. However, the researchers were limited intheir work by the fact that the resistance of the seal between the glassof the pipette and the membrane (10-50 MΩ) was very small relative tothe resistance of the channel (10 GΩ). The electrical noise resultingfrom such a seal is inversely related to the resistance and,consequently, was large enough to obscure the currents flowing throughion channels, the conductance of which are smaller than that of the AChchannel. It also prohibited the clamping of the voltage in the pipetteto values different from that of the bath due to the resulting largecurrents through the seal.

It was then discovered that by fire polishing the glass pipettes and byapplying suction to the interior of the pipette a seal of very highresistance (1 to 100 GΩ) could be obtained with the surface of the cell,thereby reducing the noise by an order of magnitude to levels at whichmost channels of biological interest can be studied and greatly extendedthe voltage range over which these studies could be made. This improvedseal has been termed a ‘gigaseal’, and the pipette has been termed a‘patch pipette’. A more detailed description of the gigaseal may befound in O. P. Hamill, A. Marty, E. Neher, B. Sakmann & F. J. Sigworth(1981) “Improved patch-clamp techniques for high resolution currentrecordings from cells and cell-free membrane patches.” Pfügers Arch.391, 85-100. For their work in developing the patch clamp technique,Neher and Sakmann were awarded the 1991 Nobel Prize in Physiology andMedicine.

Ion channels are transmembrane proteins which catalyse transport ofinorganic ions across cell membranes. The ion channels participate inprocesses as diverse as generating and timing action potentials,synaptic transmission, secretion of hormones, contraction of muscles,etc. Many pharmacological agents exert their specific effects viamodulation of ion channels. Examples include antiepileptic compoundssuch as phenyoin and lamotrigine, which block voltage-dependentNa+-channels in the brain, antihypertensive drugs such as nifedipine anddiltiazem, which block voltage dependent Ca2+-channels in smooth musclecells, and stimulators of insulin release such as glibenclamide andtolbutamide, which block an ATP-regulated K+-channel in the pancreas. Inaddition to chemically-induced modulation of ion-channel activity, thepatch clamp technique has enabled scientists to perform manipulationswith voltage-dependent channels. These techniques include adjusting thepolarity of the electrode in the patch pipette and altering the salinecomposition to moderate the free ion levels in the bath solution.

The Patch Clamp Technique

The patch clamp technique represents a major development in biology andmedicine, since it enables measurement of ion flow through single ionchannel proteins, and also enables the study of a single ion channelactivity in response to drug exposure. Briefly, in standard patchclamping, a thin (approx. 0.5-2 μm in diameter) glass pipette is used.The tip of this patch pipette is pressed against the surface of the cellmembrane. The pipette tip seals tightly to the cell membrane andisolates a small population of ion channel proteins in the tiny patch ofmembrane limited by the pipette orifice. The activity of these channelscan be measured individually (‘single channel recording’) or,alternatively, the patch can be ruptured, allowing measurements of thechannel activity of the entire cell membrane (‘whole-cellconfiguration’). High-conductance access to the cell interior forperforming whole-cell measurements can be obtained by rupturing themembrane by applying negative pressure in the pipette.

The Gigaseal

As discussed above, an important requirement for patch clampmeasurements of single-channel currents is the establishment of ahigh-resistance seal between the cell membrane and the glassmicropipette tip, in order to restrict ions from moving in the spacebetween the two surfaces. Typically, resistances in excess of 1 GΩ arerequired, hence the physical contact zone is referred to as a‘gigaseal’.

Formation of a gigaseal requires that the cell membrane and the pipetteglass are brought into close proximity to each other. Thus, while thedistance between adjacent cells in tissues or between cultured cells andtheir substrates generally is in the order of 20-40 nm (Neher, 2001),the distance between the cell membrane and the pipette glass in thegigaseal is predicted to be in the Angstrom (i.e. 10-10 m) range. Thephysico-chemical nature of the gigaseal is not known. However, gigasealsmay be formed between cell membranes and a wide variety of glass typesincluding quartz, aluminosilicate, and borosilicate (Rae and Levis,1992), indicating that the specific chemical composition of the glass isnot crucial.

Cell Membrane Structure

Cell membranes are composed of a phospholipid bilayer with intercalatedglycoproteins, the latter serving a multitude of functions includingacting as receptors for various agents. These membrane-spanningglycoproteins typically comprise peptide- and glyco-moieties whichextend out from the membrane into the extracellular space, forming aso-called ‘glycocalyx’ layer around the phospholipid bilayer whichreaches a height of 20 to 50 nm and creates an electrolyte-filledcompartment adjacent to the phospholipid bilayer (see FIG. 1). Thus, theglycocalyx forms a hydrophilic and negatively charged domainconstituting the interspace between the cell and its aqueousenvironment.

Cytoskeleton and Glycocalyx

Immediately underneath the cell membrane is located the cytoskeleton, ameshwork of actin filaments, spectrin, anchyrin, and a multitude ofother large structural molecules. One important role of the cytoskeletonis to anchor certain integral membrane proteins and glycoproteins tofixed positions within the membrane. However, it is believed thatintercalated membrane glycoproteins are free, within certain limits(lipid micro domains or ‘rafts'; for a review see Simons and Toomre,2000), to move laterally in the phospholipid bilayer. Indeed, such anarrangement has been described as being like protein icebergs in anocean of lipids’.

Effect of Glycocalyx on Gigaseal Formation

In conventional patch clamp methods, the initial point of contactbetween the glass pipette tip (which has a wall thickness ofapproximately 100 nm) and the cell involves the glycocalyx. Anestimation of the electrical resistance, represented by the 150 mMelectrolyte contained in the inter-space defined between the glasssurface and the lipid membrane, by the height of the glycocalyx (e.g. 20to 40 nm) results in 20-60 MΩ. This estimation is in agreement withexperimental observations on smooth surface quartz coated chips of theTEOS (Trietliyloxysilane) type, which routinely yield resistances in theorder of 40 MΩ (or only 4% of a GΩ). In this estimation, it is assumedthat the electrolyte is present between the lipid membrane and a glasssurface approximately of cylindrical shape with diameter about 1 μm andlength about 3-10 μm. Subsequent gentle suction (<20 hPa) applied to thepipette further increases the resistance, ideally leading to a gigaseal.Gigaseal formation may take place rapidly on a time scale of 0.1 to 10s, or it may be a prolonged process completed only after severalsuccessive rounds of increased suction pressure. The time course of thegigaseal formation, reflects the exclusion of glycoproteins from thearea of physical (membrane/pipette) contact by lateral displacement inthe ‘liquid-crystal’ phospholipid bilayer. In other words, the elementsof the glycocalyx, i.e. glycoproteins, are squeezed out of the area ofcontact due to the negative hydrostatic pressure applied to the pipettewhich forces the phospholipid bilayer (the hydrophilic polar heads ofthe phospholipids) against the glass surface (hydrophilic silanolgroups).

However, sometimes the process of resistance increase proceeds only upto formation of a quasi gigaseal (0.5 to 1 GΩ). Empirically, applicationof a large (50-70 mV; Penner, 1995) negative electrical potential to thepipette at this point may lead to the final resistance increaseterminating with the gigaseal. In terms of the glycocalyx, the latterobservation may be explained by negatively charged domains ofglycoproteins being displaced laterally driven by the applied negativepipette potential. The strength of the electrical field (E) acting onthe glycoproteins, i.e. the electrical field from pipette lumen to thesurrounding bath is considerable:$E = {\frac{x}{V} = {\frac{70\quad{mV}}{100\quad{nm}} = {700.000\quad V\text{/}m}}}$assuming a pipette tip wall thickness (x) of 100 nm and an appliedpipette potential (V) of −70 mV.Conventional Pipettes Versus Planar Substrates

Recent developments in patch clamp methodology have seen theintroduction of planar substrates (e.g. a silicon chip) in place ofconventional glass micropipettes (for example, see. WO 01/25769 andMayer, 2000).

Attempts to form gigaseals between planar silicon-based chips and livingcells have proven problematic (for example, see Mayer, 2000). However,success has been achieved in obtaining gigaseals between artificialphospholipid vesicles which contain no exterior glycocalyx. This findingindicates a critical importance of the glycocalyx in the gigasealformation process.

Hence, there is a need for improved planar substrates suitable for usein patch clamp studies of cell membrane electrophysiology which permitthe formation of a gigaseal with cell membranes comprising a glycocalyx.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a substrate and a method optimised fordetermining and/or monitoring current flow through an ionchannel-containing structure, in particular a cell membrane having aglycocalyx, under conditions that are realistic with respect to theinfluences to which the cells or cell membranes are subjected. Thus,data obtained using the substrate and the method of the invention, suchas variations in ion channel activity as a result of influencing thecell membrane with, e.g. various test compounds, can be relied upon astrue manifestations of the influences proper and not of artefactsintroduced by the measuring system, and can be used as a valid basis forstudying electrophysiological phenomena related to the conductivity orcapacitance of cell membranes under given conditions.

It will be understood that when the term ‘cell’ or ‘cell membrane’ isused in the present specification, it will normally, depending on thecontext, be possible to use any other ion channel-containing structure,such as another ion channel-containing lipid membrane or an ionchannel-containing artificial membrane.

As discussed above, an important requirement for patch clampmeasurements of single-channel currents is the establishment of ahigh-resistance gigaseal between the cell membrane and the substrate. Akey factor in formation of a gigaseal is the proximity of the cellmembrane to the substrate, which is turn is dependent on the size of thearea of contact between the cell membrane and the substrate.

The physical area of contact between the cell membrane and a planarsilicon chip (about 1 μm width of contact rim; see FIG. 2, right handdiagram) with a smoothly rounded, funnel-like orifice is much largerthan that formed between a cell membrane and a glass micropipette (about100 nm width; FIG. 2, left hand diagram). This results in the force perunit area being considerably reduced in the chip relative to the pipetteconfiguration, and the number of intercalated glycoproteins in thecontact area being much larger, effectively preventing the requiredAngström distance between the phospholipid bilayer and the substratesurface imperative for the formation of a gigaseal.

The present invention seeks to address this problem by providing aplanar substrate (e.g. a silicon-based chip), suitable for patch clampstudies of the electrophysiological properties of cell membrane, whichis designed to provide a reduced area of contact with the cell membrane,thereby promoting the formation of a gigaseal.

Thus, a first aspect of the invention provides a substantially planarsubstrate for use in patch clamp analysis of the electrophysiologicalproperties of a cell membrane comprising a glycocalyx, wherein thesubstrate comprises an aperture having a rim defining the aperture, therim being adapted to form a gigaseal upon contact with the cellmembrane, the rim protruding from the plane of the substrate to a heightin excess of the thickness of the glycocalyx.

In a preferred embodiment, the substrate is a silicon-based chip.

In the present context, the term gigaseal normally indicates a seal of aleast 1 G ohm, and this is the size of seal normally aimed at as aminimum, but for certain types of measurements where the currents arelarge, lower values may be sufficient as threshold values.

By ‘glycocalyx’ we mean the layer created by the peptide- andglyco-moieties, which extend into the extracellular space from theglycoproteins in the lipid bilayer of the cell membrane.

Preferably, the rim extends at least 20 nm, at least 30 nm, at least 40nm, at least 50 nm, at least 60 nm at least 70 n, at least 80 nm, atleast 90 rn or at least 100 nm above the plane of the substrate.

Advantageously, the rim is shaped such that the area of physical contactbetween the substrate and the cell membrane is mi sed, thereby favouringpenetration of the glycocalyx and formation of a gigaseal.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the rim may beof any suitable cross-sectional profile. For example, the walls of therim may be tapered or substantially parallel. Likewise, the uppermosttip of the may take several shapes, for example it may be dome-shaped,flat or pointed. Furthermore, the rim protrusion may be substantiallyperpendicular to, oblique) or parallel with the plane of the substrate.A parallel protruding rim may be located at or near to the mouth of theaperture or, alternatively, positioned deeper into the aperture.Conveniently, the width of the rim is between 10 and 200 nm.

It will be further appreciated by persons skilled in the art that theaperture should have dimensions which do not permit an intact cell topass through the planar substrate.

Preferably, the length (i.e. depth) of the aperture is between 2 and 30μm, for example between 2 and 20 μm, 2 and 10 μm, or 5 and 10 μm.

The optimal diameter of the aperture for optimal gigaseal formation andwhole cell establishment will be dependent on the specific cell typebeing used. Advantageously, the diameter of the aperture is in the range0.5 to 2 μm.

The substrate of the invention will typically be a component used in anapparatus for carrying out measurements of the electrophysiologicalproperties of ion transfer channels in lipid membranes such as cells.

The apparatus may be designed to provide means for carrying out a largenumber of individual experiments in a short period of time. This isaccomplished by providing a microsystem having a plurality of test isconfinements (i.e. rimmed apertures for contacting cells) each of whichhaving sites comprising integrated measuring electrodes, and providingand suitable test sample supply. Each test confinement may comprisemeans for positioning cells, for establishment of gigaseal, forselection of sites at which giga-seal has been established, measuringelectrodes and one or more reference electrodes. Thereby it is possibleto perform independent experiments in each test confinement, and tocontrol the preparation and measurements of all experiments from acentral control unit such as a computer. Due to the small size of thetest confinements, the invention permits carrying out measurementsutilising only small amounts of supporting liquid and test sample.

The substrate of the invention can be made of any material suitable fora wafer processing technology, such as silicon, plastics, pure silicaand other glasses such as quartz and Pyrex™ or silica doped with one ormore dopants selected from the group of Be, Mg, Ca, B, Al, Ga, Ge, N, P,As. Silicon is the preferred substrate material.

In a preferred embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, thesurface of the substrate and/or the walls of the aperture are coatedwith a material that is well suited for creating a seal with the cellmembrane. Such materials include silicon, plastics, pure silica andother glasses such as quartz and Pyrex™ or silica doped with one or moredopants selected from the group of Be, Mg, Ca, B, Al, Ga, Ge, N, P, Asand oxides from any of these. Preferably, the substrate is coated, atleast in part, with silicon oxide.

In a further preferred embodiment of the first aspect of the invention,the planar substrate has a first surface part and an opposite secondsurface part, the first surface part having at least one site adapted tohold an ion channel-containing structure, each site comprising anaperture with a rim and having a measuring electrode associatedtherewith, the substrate carrying one or more reference electrodes, themeasuring electrodes and the reference electrodes being located incompartments filled with electrolytes on each side of the aperture, themeasuring electrodes and the respective reference electrode or referenceelectrodes being electrodes capable of generating, when in electrolyticcontact with each other and when a potential difference is appliedbetween them, a current between them by delivery of ions by oneelectrode and receipt of ions the other electrode, each of the sitesbeing adapted to provide a high electrical resistance seal between anion channel-containing structure held at the site and a surface part ofthe site, the seal, when provided, separating a domain defined on oneside of the ion channel-containing structure and in electrolytic contactwith the measuring electrode from a domain defined on the other side ofthe ion channel-containing structure and in electrolytic contact withthe respective reference electrode so that a current flowing through ionchannels of the ion channel-containing structure between the electrodescan be determined and/or monitored, the electrodes being located on eachside of the substrate.

Examples of the general design of the preferred embodiment of the firstaspect of the invention wherein the substrate comprises integralelectrodes (but without the rimmed aperture feature of the presentinvention) are described in WO 01/25769.

A second aspect of the invention provides a method of making asubstantially planar substrate for use in patch clamp analysis of theelectrophysiological properties of a cell membrane comprising aglycocalyx, wherein the substrate comprises an aperture having a amdefog the aperture, the rim being adapted to form a gigaseal uponcontact with the cell membrane, the method comprising the steps of:

-   -   (i) providing a substrate template;    -   (ii) forming an aperture in the template; and    -   (iii) forming a rim around the aperture such that the rim        protrudes from the substrate to a height in excess of the        thickness of the glycocalyx.

Preferably, the substrate is manufactured using silicon microfabrication technology “Madou, M., 2001”.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that steps (ii) and(iii) may be performed sequentially (i.e. in temporally separate steps)or at the same time.

Advantageously, step (ii) comprises forming an aperture by use of aninductively coupled plasma (ICP) deep reactive ion etch process.“Laermer F. and Schilp, A., DE4241045”

When it is required to form a substantially vertical protrusion relativeto the plane of the substrate, the method comprises an intermediate stepof a directional and selective etching of the font side of the substratecausing a removal of a masking layer on the front side of the substrate,and further proceeding the prescribed protrusion distance into theunderlaying substrate.

As a result of a faster etch rate of silicon compared to that of themasking material, the masking material will be left inside the aperture,and protrude from the surface. An overall surface coating cansubsequently be applied.

When it is required to form a protrusion lying substantially in theplane of the substrate, the method comprises an intermediate step ofusing Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) etch or Advanced Silicon Etch(ASE) for the formation of the pore, where the repetitive alternation ofetching and passivation steps characterising these methods, will resultin some scalloping towards the mouth of the aperture. By suitableadjustment of the process parameters, the scalloping can result in auinward in plane protrusion of the rim.

Again, an overall surface coating can subsequently be employed.

Conveniently, the method further comprises coating the surface of thesubstrate (e.g. with silicon oxide), either before or after formation ofthe aperture and/or rim. Alternatively, step (iii) is performed at thesame time as coating the substrate.

Such coatings may be deposited by use of plasma enhanced chemical vapourdeposition (PECVD) and/or by use of low pressure chemical vapourdeposition (LPCVD).

The preferred embodiment of the first aspect of the invention whereinthe substrate comprises integral electrodes may be manufactured asdescribed in WO 01/25769).

A third aspect of the invention provides a method for analysing theelectrophysiological properties of a cell membrane comprising aglycocalyx, the method comprising the following steps:

-   -   (i) making a substantially planar substrate for use in patch        clamp analysis of the electrophysiological properties of a cell        membrane comprising a glycocalyx, wherein the substrate        comprises an aperture having a rim defining the aperture, the        rim being adapted to form a gigaseal upon contact with the cell        membrane, the method comprising the steps of    -   (ii) providing a substrate template;    -   (iii) forming an aperture in the template; and    -   (iv) forming a rim around the aperture such that the rim        protrudes from the substrate to a height in excess of the        thickness of the glycocalyx.    -   (v) contacting the cell membrane with the rim of an aperture of        the is substrate such that a gigaseal is formed between the cell        membrane and the substrate; and    -   (vi) measuring the electrophysiological properties of the cell        membrane.

In a preferred embodiment of the third aspect of the invention, there isprovided a method of establishing a whole cell measuring configurationfor determining and/or monitoring an electrophysiological property ofone or more ion channels of one or more ion channel-containingstructures, said method comprising the steps of:

-   -   (i) providing a substrate as defined above;    -   (ii) supplying a carrier liquid at one or more apertures, said        carrier liquid containing one or more ion channel-containing        structures;    -   (iii) positioning at least one of the ion channel-containing        structures at a corresponding number of apertures;    -   (iv) checking for a high electrical resistance seal between an        ion channel-containing structure held at a site (i.e. aperture)        and the surface part of the site (i.e. rim) with which the high        electrical resistance seal is to be provided by successively        applying a first electric potential difference between the        measuring electrode associated with the site and a reference        electrode, monitoring a first current flowing between said        measuring electrode and said reference electrode, and comparing        said first current to a predetermined threshold current and, if        the first current is at most the predetermined threshold        current, then approving the site as having an acceptable seal        between the ion cannel-containing structure and the surface part        of the site; and    -   (v) establishing a whole-cell configuration at approved site(s),        whereby a third current floating through ion channels of the ion        channel-containing structure between the measuring electrode and        the reference electrodes can be determined and/or monitored.

An ion channel-containing structure (e.g. a cell) in a solution may beguided towards a site on a substrate either by active or passive means.When the ion channel-containing structure makes contact with aperturerim, the contact surfaces form a high electrical resistance seal (agigaseal) at the site, such that an electrophysiological property of theion channels can be measured using electrodes. Such anelectrophysiological property may be current conducted through the partof membrane of the ion channel-containing structure that is encircled bythe gigaseal.

A whole-cell configuration may be obtained by applying, between themeasuring electrode associated with each approved site and a referenceelectrode, a series of second electric potential difference pulses,monitoring a second current flowing between the measuring electrode andthe reference electrode, and interrupting the series of second electricpotential difference pulses whenever said second current exceeds apredetermined threshold value, thereby rupturing the part of the ionchannel-containing structure which is closest to the measuringelectrode.

Alternatively, the whole-cell configuration may be obtained bysubjecting the part of the ion channel-containing structure which isclosest to the measuring electrode to interaction with a apertureforming substance.

It should be noted that in the present context, the term “whole-cellconfiguration” denotes not only configurations in which a whole cell hasbeen brought in contact with the substrate at a measuring site and hasbeen punctured or, by means of a aperture-forming substance, has beenopened to electrical contact with the cell interior, but alsoconfigurations in which an excised cell membrane patch has been arrangedso that the outer face of the membrane faces “upwardly”, towards a testsample to be applied.

As the measuring electrode associated with a site may be one of aplurality of electrodes on the substrate, and the ion channel-containingstructure may be one of many in a solution, it is possible to obtainmany such prepared measuring set-ups on a substrate. A typicalmeasurement comprises adding a specific test sample to the set-up, forwhich reason each measuring set-up is separated from other measuringset-ups to avoid mixing of test samples and electrical conduction inbetween set-ups.

In use, the addition of cell-supporting liquid and cells to thesubstrate is carried out in one of the following ways. In a preferredembodiment, the test confinements are accessible from above, anddroplets, of supporting liquid and cells can be supplied at each testconfinement by means of a dispensing or pipetting system. Systems suchas an ink jet printer head or a bubble jet printer head can be used.Another possibility is an nQUAD aspirate dispenser or any otherdispensing/pipetting device adapted to dose small amounts of liquid.Alternatively, supporting liquid and cells are applied on the substrateas a whole (e.g. by pouring supporting liquid containing cells over thesubstrate or immersing the substrate in such), thereby providingsupporting liquid and cells to each test confinement. Since the volumesof supporting liquid and later test samples are as small as nanolitres,water vaporisation could represent a problem. Therefore, depending ofthe specific volumes, handling of liquids on the substrate shouldpreferably be carried out in high humidity atmospheres.

In another embodiment, the cells are cultivated directly on thesubstrate, while immersed in growth medium. In the optimal case, thecells will form a homogeneous monolayer (depending on the type of cellsto be grown) on the entire surface, except at regions where the surfaceintentionally is made unsuitable for cell growth. The success ofcultivation of cells on the substrate depends strongly on the substratematerial.

In still another embodiment, an artificial membrane with incorporatedion channels may be used instead of a cell. Such artificial membrane canbe made from a saturated solution of lipids, by positioning a small lumpof lipid over an aperture. This technique is thoroughly described byChristopher Miller (1986) Ion Channel Reconstitution, Plenum 1986, p.577. If the aperture size is appropriate, and a polar liquid such aswater is present on both sides of the aperture, a lipid bilayer can formover the aperture. The next step is to incorporate a protein ion channelinto the bilayer. This can be achieved by supplying lipid vesicles withincorporated ion channels on one side of the bilayer. The vesicles canbe drawn to fusion with the bilayer by e.g. osmotic gradients, wherebythe ion channels are incorporated into the bilayer.

Obtaining good contact between the cell and a glass pipette, and therebycreating a gigaseal between a cell and the tip the pipette, is welldescribed in the prior art. In order to draw the cell to the tip of thepipette, as well as to make the necessary contact for obtaining thegigaseal, it is normal to apply suction to the pipette. However, withthe planar substrates of the present invention mere contact between thecell membrane and the substrate, typically ultra-pure silica, can besufficient for the cell to make some bonding to the surface and create agigaseal.

The positioning of a cell over an aperture in the substrate can becarried out by electrophoresis, where an electric field from anelectrode draws the charged cell towards it. Negatively charged cellswill be drawn towards positive electrodes and vice versa. Theelectrostatic pull can also act as guiding means for a group ofelectrodes. Alternatively, within a test confinement, a hydrophobicmaterial may cover the surface of the substrate except at areas justaround electrodes. Thereby, cells can only bind themselves on electrodesites. It is possible to apply both of these methods simultaneously oroptionally in combination with a suitable geometrical shape of thesubstrate surface around electrodes, to guide the sinking cells towardsthe electrode.

Alternatively, the positioning of a cell over an aperture in thesubstrate can be carried out by electro-osmosis.

If suction is applied, it draws the cell to the aperture and establishesa connection between the cell and the aperture, creating a gigasealseparating the aperture inside and the solution. The gigaseal may takeany form, e.g. circular, oval or rectangular. Where the substratecomprises integral electrodes, the supporting liquid may make electricalcontact between the cell membrane and a reference electrode. The cellmay be deformed by the suction, and a case where the cell extends into(but does not pass through) the aperture may be desired if controlled.

Using the substrates and methods of the invention, the activity of theion channels in the cell membrane can be measured electrically (singlechannel recording) or, alternatively, the patch can be ruptured allowingmeasurements of the channel activity of the entire cell membrane (wholecell recording). High-conductance access to the cell interior forperforming whole cell measurements can be obtained in at least threedifferent ways (all methods are feasible, but various cells may workbetter with different approaches):

a) The membrane can be ruptured by suction from the aperture side.Subatmospheric pressures are applied either as short pulses ofincreasing strength or as ramps or steps of increasing strength.Membrane rupture is detected by highly increased capacitative currentspikes (reflecting the total cell membrane capacitance) in response to agiven voltage test pulse;

(b) Membrane rupture by applied voltage pulses. Voltage pulses areapplied either as short pulses of increasing strength (mV to V) andduration (is to ms), or as ramps or steps of increasing strength,between the electrodes. The lipids forming the membrane of a typicalcell will be influenced by the large electrical field strength from thevoltage pulses, whereby the membrane to disintegrates in the vicinity ofthe electrode. Membrane rupture is detected by highly increasedcapacitative current spikes in response to a given voltage test pulse.

(c) Permeabilization of membrane. Application of aperture-formingsubstances (for example antibiotics such as nystatin or amphotericin B),by e.g. prior deposition of these at the site. Rather than by rupturingthe membrane, the membrane resistance is selectively lowered byincorporation of permeabilizing molecules, resulting in effective cellvoltage control via the electrode pair. The incorporation is followed bya gradually decreasing total resistance and an increasing capacitance.

Where the substrate comprises a plurality test confinements eachcomprising an aperture, test samples may be added to each testconfinement individually, with different test samples for each testconfinement. This can be carried out using the methods for applyingsupporting liquid, with the exception of the methods where supportingliquid are applied on the substrate as a whole.

Upon positioning the cell in a measuring configuration, severalelectrophysiological properties can be measured, such as current thoughion channels (voltage clamp), or capacitance of ion channels containingmembranes. In any case, a suitable electronic measuring circuit shouldbe provided. The person skilled in the art will be able to select suchsuitable measuring circuit.

A fourth aspect of the invention provides a kit for performing a methodaccording to claim 24, the kit comprising a substantially planarsubstrate for use in patch clamp analysis of the electrophysiologicalproperties of a cell membrane comprising a glycocalyx, wherein thesubstrate comprises an aperture having a rim defining the aperture, therim being adapted to form a gigaseal upon contact with the cellmembrane, the rim protruding from the plane of the substrate to a heightin excess of the thickness of the glycocalyx and one or more media orreagents for performing patch clamp studies.

Preferably the kit comprises a plurality of substrates.

The invention will now be described with reference to the followingnon-limiting examples and figures:

FIG. 1 shows the cell with a patch pipette attached. In the gigasealzone, (indicated by shaded area at point of contact between the pipettetip and the cell membrane) the glycoproteins of the glycocalyx have beendisplaced laterally to allow direct contact between the membranephospholipid bilayer and the pipette;

FIGS. 2 a and 2 b show a cell attached to either a pipette tip (FIG. 2a) or a planar substrate (FIG. 2 b), The area of contact between thecell membrane and substrate surface is considerably larger in thesubstrate configuration (FIG. 2 b) than in the pipette configuration(FIG. 2 a).

FIG. 3 shows the variation in actual pipette resistance for eachintended resistance set;

FIG. 4 shows Gigaseal success rate versus pipette resistance;

FIG. 5 shows the success rate of whole-cell establishment (fromsuccessful gigaseals) versus pipette resistance;

FIG. 6 shows the time-dependence of gigaseal formation with differentaperture sizes, the error bars indicating the standard deviation fromthe mean;

FIG. 7 shows an example of a cell attached to a planar substrate with aprotruding rim flanking the aperture. The gigaseal formation zone isvery confined;

FIGS. 8 a, 8 b, 8 c & Ed show four different aperture designs (dietransactions) including a protruding rim: vertical rim (FIG. 5 a);oblique rim (FIG. 8 b); horizontal rim (FIG. 8 c); and embedded rim(FIG. 8 d).

FIG. 9 shows a design without protrusion but with a rim sufficientlysharp (r=25-100 nm) to reduce the membrane/substrate contact zone to50-200 nm. The aperture angle (θ) is 45 to 90 degrees;

FIG. 10 a and FIG. 10 b are scanning electron micrographs of substratewith long pores with a protruding rim in the plane of the surface usingICP and LPCVD for surface modification; and

FIG. 11 is a scanning electron micrograph of a substrate with long poreswith a protruding rim out of the plane of the surface using ICP andLPCVD for surface modification.

EXAMPLES

The present invention identifies three factors that are important forgigaseal formation and whole cell establishment in patch clampmeasurements performed on living cells containing glycocalyx in the cellmembrane:

1. The length of the aperture should be sufficiently long in order toprevent the relatively elastic cells to be moved through the orificeupon application of suction.

2. There also appears to exist an optimal aperture size for gigasealformation and whole cell establishment which relates to the elasticproperties of the cell membrane and the cell type being studied.

3. The aperture of the planar substrate should be defined by a rimcapable of displacing the glycocalyx when approaching the cell surface.

Each factor is discussed below:

Length of the Aperture

The length (i.e. depth) of the aperture, defined by the membranethickness of the chip, is also important. Low aspect ratio designs(short apertures) suffer from the disadvantage that cells, uponpositioning and subsequent suction, have a tendency to move through thehole due to their inherent elasticity. Studies have demonstrated thatthis problem may be effectively obviated by using longer apertures,typically in excess of 2 μm (data not shown).

Determination of Optimal Aperture Size

To determine the optimal aperture size for obtaining gigaseal and wholecell configurations we have compared the success rates for achievingthem in a standard patch-clamp set-up, using patch pipettes of varyingsize. The experiments were performed on HEK293 cells adhered tocoverslips, immersed in sodium Ringer solution. Borosilicate capillaries(Hilgenberg, Cat No. 1403573, L=75 mm, OD=1.5 mm, ID=0.87 mm, 0.2 mmfilament) were used to make pipettes. Pipette resistance was used as anindicator of relative aperture size; pipettes with intended resistancesof 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10 and 15 MΩ were fabricated. At the time ofmeasurement, the actual pipette resistance was noted and the averageactual pipette resistance for each set, along with the standarddeviation from the mean, is shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 shows the dependence of gigaseal and whole-cell success rates onthe pipette aperture resistance aperture size). The number ofexperiments performed for each data set is shown above the data points.The results show that pipettes with a resistance of 5 MΩ were optimalfor both gigaseal formation and whole cell establishment, whileresistances above 5, and up to 15 MΩ, resulted in an approximately 20%drop in the success rate. Reduction of pipette resistance below 5 MΩ wasmore deleterious; A resistance of 2 MΩ gave a success rate or 50%, 37%lower than for 5 MΩ, while resistances of 1 MΩ or below resulted invirtually no gigaseal formation at all.

FIG. 5 shows the percentage of whole-cells formed from experiments inwhich gigaseals were successfully formed (i.e. discounting those thatdid not reach gigaseal). Data indicate that although 5 MΩ pipettes hadthe highest whole-cell success rate, the other aperture sizes had onlyslightly lower successes.

The effect of pipette resistance on the time taken to reach a GΩresistance was also examined (see FIG. 6). The results show that the 2MΩ pipettes took significantly longer to reach gigasealthan did pipettesof 5, 10 or 15 MΩ. The similarity of the results for the 5, 10 and 15 MΩpipettes indicates that increasing the aperture size within this rangedoes not affect the time take to reach gigaseal.

The results clearly show that the success of gigaseal formation isdependent on the size of the pipette aperture. The 5 MΩ pipettes had theoptimal aperture size, and sizes greater than this (ie. with lowerresistances) resulted in a marked reduction is successful gigasealformation.

Although the above experiments were performed using conventional glassmicropipettes, the results can be extrapolated to planar substrates foruse in patch clamp experiments. Thus, the results indicate thatapertures in the chip system should, in general not measure larger thanthe apertures of the 5 MΩ pipettes. However, pipettes smaller than the 5MΩ ones still performed fairly well, although they were significantlyworse. Therefore, making the chip aperture slightly smaller than the 5MΩ pipettes would be less deleterious than making it larger.

Varying the pipette aperture size appeared to have less effect onwhole-cell formation. Although the success of whole-cell formation washighest in 5 MΩ pipettes, for pipettes from 2 MΩ to 15 MΩ, there wasonly a slight reduction in success rate.

It was also observed that the pipette aperture size had an effect on thetime taken to reach a GΩ resistance. Pipettes of 5 and 15 MΩ tooksimilar times to reach gigaseal, but those of 2 MΩ took 2.5 to 3 timeslonger.

Microscopy of the glass pipettes used in the experiments revealed thatpipettes exhibiting 5 MΩ resistance had an aperture size of the order of0.5-1 μm. It is, however, expected that the optimal aperture size isrelated to the cell type and cell size.

The success-rate for obtaining gigaseals in conventional patch clampexperiments is typically high, often around 90%, when patching culturedcells like HEK or CHO. Based on the above considerations, it is expectedthat comparable success-rate on planar chips may be achieved using anaperture geometry mimicking that of a conventional pipette tip orifice.Such a geometry would comprise a protruding rim flanking a 0.5 to 1 μmaperture hole. Moreover, the length (i.e. depth) of the aperture shouldpreferably be in excess of 2 μm.

Production of Planar Patch-Clamp Substrates

A preferred method of producing the planer patch-clamp substrates of theinvention is by using silicon (Si) wafer micro-fabrication andprocessing methods, which allow Si surfaces to be coated with siliconoxide effectively forming a high quality glass surface. Preferably, longpores and the surface modification can be made by using ICP (InductivelyCoupled Plasma) and LPCVD (Low Pressure Chemical Vapour Deposition).Long apertures with a protruding rim can be made by using ICP to makethe poreand RIE (Reactive Ion Etch) to form the protruding rim, combinedwithLPCVD to make the surface modification.

-   (a) Example process recipe for long apertures with a protruding rim    in the plane of the surface using ICP and LPCVD for surface    modification (FIG. 10 a and FIG. 10 b).    -   1. Starting substrate: single crystal silicon wafer, crystal        orientation <100>.    -   2. One surface of the silicon is coated with photoresist and the        pattern containing the aperture locations and diameters is        transferred to the photoresist through exposure to UV light.    -   3. The aperture pattern is transferred to the silicon with Deep        Reactive Ion Etch (DRIE) or Advanced Silicon Etching (ASE) using        an Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP), resulting in deep vertical        pores with a depth of 1-50 μm.    -   4. The silicon surface is coated with a etch mask that will with        stand KOH or TMAH solution. As an example this could be silicon        oxide or silicon nitride.    -   5. The opposite side of the wafer (the bottom side) is coated        with photoresist and a pattern containing the membrane defining        openings in the silicon nitride is transferred to the        photoresist through exposure to UV light.    -   6. The wafer is etched away on the bottom side of the wafer in        the regions defined by the openings in the photoresist, using a        suitable pattern transfer process. As an example this could be        Reactive Ion Etch (RIE).    -   7. The wafer is etched anisotropically in a KOH or TMAH        solution, resulting in a pyramidal opening on the bottom side of        the wafer. The timing of the etching defines the thickness of        the remaining membrane of silicon at the topside of the wafer.        Alternatively boron doping can be used to define an etch stop,        giving a better control of the thickness.    -   8. The etch mask is remove selectively to the silicon substrate.    -   9. The silicon is coated with silicon oxide, either through        thermal oxidation, with plasma enhanced chemical vapor        deposition (PECVD) or with LPCVD.        Alternatively the substrate can be fabricated through the        following process:    -   1. Starting substrate: single crystal silicon wafer.    -   2. One surface of the silicon is coated with photoresist and the        pattern containing the aperture locations and diameters is        transferred to the photoresist through exposure to UV light.    -   3. The aperture pattern is transferred tot the silicon with Deep        Reactive Ion Etch (DRIE) or Advanced Silicon Etching (ASE) using        an Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP), resulting in deep vertical        pores with a depth of 1-50 μm.    -   4. The opposite side of the wafer (the bottom side) is coated        with photoresist and a pattern containing the membrane        definitions is transferred to the photoresist through exposure        to UV light.    -   5. The wafer is etched anisotropically using Deep Reactive Ion        Etch (DRIE) or Advanced Silicon Etching (ASE) using an        Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP), resulting in a cylindrical        opening on the bottom side of the wafer. The timing of the        etching defines the thickness of the remaining membrane of        silicon at the topside of the wafer.    -   6. The silicon is coated with silicon oxide, either through        thermal oxidation, with plasma enhanced chemical vapor        deposition (PECTD) or with LPCVD.        Alternatively the substrate can be fabricated through the        following process:    -   1. Starting substrate: silicon on insulator (SOI) with a buried        oxide layer located 1-50 μm below the top surface, carrier        crystal orientation <100>.    -   2. One surface of the silicon is coated with photoresist and the        pattern containing the aperture locations and diameters is        transferred to the photoresist through exposure to UV light.    -   3. The aperture pattern is transferred to the silicon with Deep        Reactive Ion Etch (DRIE) or Advanced Silicon Etching (ASE) using        an Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP), resulting in deep vertical        pores down to the depth of the buried oxide layer.    -   4. The silicon surface is coated with a etch mask that will with        stand KOH or TMAH solution. As an example this could be silicon        oxide or silicon nitride.    -   5. The opposite side of the wafer (the bottom side) is coated        with photoresist and a pattern containing the membrane defining        openings in the silicon nitride is transferred to the        photoresist through exposure to UV light.    -   6. The wafer is etched away on the bottom side of the wafer in        the regions defined by the openings in the photoresist, using a        suitable pattern transfer process. As an example this could be        Reactive Ion Etch (RIE).    -   7. The wafer is etched anisotropically in a KOH or TMAH        solution, resulting in a pyramidal opening on the bottom side of        the wafer. The buried oxide will act as an etch stop for the        process, hence thickness of the topside silicon layer defines        the thickness of the remaining membrane.    -   8. The exposed regions of the buried oxide layer are removed        through RIE, wet hydrofluoric acid (HF) etch, or HF vapor etch.        This will ensure contact between the top and bottom openings in        the wafer.    -   9. The etch mask is remove selectively to the silicon substrate.    -   10. The silicon is coated with silicon oxide, either through        thermal oxidation, with plasma enhanced chemical vapor        deposition (PECVD) or with LPCVD.        Alternatively the substrate can be fabricated through the        following process:    -   1. Starting substrate: silicon on insulator (SOI) with a buried        oxide layer located 1-50 μm below the top surface.    -   2. One surface of the silicon is coated with photoresist and the        pattern containing the aperture locations and diameters is        transferred to the photoresist through exposure to UV light.    -   3. The aperture pattern is transferred to the silicon with Deep        Reactive Ion Etch (DRIE) or Advanced Silicon Etching (ASE) using        an Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP), resulting in deep vertical        pores down to the depth of the buried oxide layer.    -   4. The opposite side of the wafer (the bottom side) is coated        with photoresist and a pattern containing the membrane        definitions is transferred to the photoresist through exposure        to UV light.    -   5. The wafer is etched anisotropically using Deep Reactive Ion        Etch (DRIE) or Advanced Silicon Etching (ASE) using an        Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP), resulting in vertical cavities        on the bottom side of the wafer. The buried oxide will act as an        etch stop for the process, hence thickness of the topside        silicon layer defines the thickness of the remaining membrane.    -   6. The exposed regions of the buried oxide layer are removed        through RIE, wet hydrofluoric acid (HF) etch, or HF vapor etch.        This will ensure contact between the top and bottom openings in        the wafer.    -   7. The silicon is coated with silicon oxide, either through        thermal oxidation, with plasma enhanced chemical vapor        deposition (PECVD) or with LPCVD.        Alternatively the substrate can be fabricated through the        following process:    -   1. Starting substrate: glass or pyrex wafer.    -   2. One surface of the silicon is coated with photoresist and the        pattern containing the aperture locations and diameters is        transferred to the photoresist through exposure to UV light.    -   3. The aperture pattern is transferred to the wafer with Deep        Reactive Ion Etch (DRIE) or Advanced Oxide Etching (AOE) using        an Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP), resulting in deep vertical        pores with a depth of 1-50 μm.    -   4. The opposite side of the wafer (the bottom side) is coated        with photoresist and a pattern containing the membrane        definitions is transferred to the photoresist through exposure        to UV light.    -   5. The wafer is etched anisotropically using Deep Reactive Ion        Etch (DRIE) or Advanced Oxide Etching (AOB) using an Inductively        Coupled Plasma (ICP), resulting in vertical cavities on the        bottom side of the wafer. The timing of the etching defines the        thickness of the remaining membrane of glass or pyrex at the        topside of the wafer.    -   6. The silicon is coated with silicon oxide, either through        thermal oxidation, with plasma enhanced chemical vapor        deposition (PECVD) or with LPCVD.

We have not demonstrated the process with glass wafers.

-   (b) Example process recipe for long pores with a protruding rim out    of the plane of the surface using ICP and LPCVD for surface    modification (FIG. 11)    -   1. Starting substrate: single crystal silicon wafer, crystal        orientation <100>.    -   2. One surface of the silicon is coated with photoresist and the        pattern containing the aperture locations and diameters is        transferred to the photoresist through exposure to UV light.    -   3. The aperture pattern is transferred to the silicon with Deep        Reactive Ion Etch (DRIE) or Advanced Silicon Etching (ASE) using        an Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP), resulting in deep vertical        pores with a depth of 1-50 μm.    -   4. The silicon surface is coated with silicon nitride using Low        Pressure Chemical Vapour Deposition (LPCVD) or Plasma Enhanced        Chemical Vapour Deposition (PECVD).    -   5. The opposite side of the wafer (the bottom side) is coated        with photoresist and a pattern containing the membrane defining        openings in the silicon nitride is transferred to the        photoresist through exposure to UV light.    -   6. The silicon nitride is etched away on the bottom side of the        wafer in the regions defined by the openings in the photoresist,        using Reactive Ion Etch (RIE).    -   7. The wafer is etched anisotropically in a KOH or TMAH        solution, resulting in a pyramidal opening on the bottom side of        the wafer. The timing of the etching defines the thickness of        the remaining membrane of silicon at the topside of the wafer.        Alternatively boron doping can be used to define an etch stop,        giving a better control of the thickness.    -   8. RIE on rear side, removing the Si-nitride mask on the rear        side of the wafer and opening the rear end of the aperture.    -   9. RIE on front side, removing the Si-nitride on the front side        leaving a protruding Si-nitride rim on the orifice.    -   10. The silicon is coated with silicon oxide, either through        thermal oxidation, with plasma enhanced chemical vapor        deposition (PECVD) or with LPCVD.        Alternatively the substrate can be fabricated through the        following process:    -   1. Starting substrate: single crystal silicon wafer.    -   2. One surface of the silicon is coated with photoresist and the        pattern containing the aperture locations and diameters is        transferred to the photoresist through exposumto UV light.    -   3. The aperture pattern is transferred to the silicon with Deep        Reactive Ion Etch (DRIE) or Advanced Silicon Etcbing (ASE) using        an Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP), resulting in deep vertical        pores with a depth of 1-50 μm.    -   4. The silicon surface is coated with silicon nitride using Low        Pressure Chemical Vapour Deposition (LPCTD) or Plasma Enhanced        Chemical Vapour Deposition (PECVD).    -   5. The opposite side of the wafer (the bottom side) is coated        with photoresist and a pattern containing the membrane defining        openings in the silicon nitride is trasferred to the photoresist        through exposure to UV light.    -   6. The silicon nitride is etched away on the bottom side of the        wafer in the regions defined by the openings in t photoresist,        using Reactive Ion Etch (RIE).    -   7. The wafer is etched anisotropically using Deep Reactive Ion        Etch (DRIE) or Advanced Silicon Etching (ASE) using an        Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP), resulting in a cylindrcal        opening on the bottom side of the wafer. The timing of the        etching defines the thickness of the remaining membrane of        silicon at the topside of the wafer.    -   8. RIE on rear side, removing the Si-nitride mas on the rear        side of the wafer and opening the rear end of the apereture.    -   9. RIE on front side, removing the Si-nitride on the front side        leaving a protruding Si-nitride rim on the orifice.    -   10. The silicon is coated with silicon oxide, either through        thermal oxidation, with plasma enhanced chemical vapor        deposition (PECVD) or with LPCVD.        Alternatively the substrate can be fabricated through the        following process:    -   1. Starting substrate: silicon on insulator (SOI) with a buried        oxide layer located 1-50 μm below the top surface, carrier        crystal orientation <100>.    -   2. One surface of the silicon is coated with photoresist and the        pattern containing the aperture locations and diameters is        transferred to the photoresist through exposure to UV light.    -   3. The aperture pattern is transferred to the silicon with Deep        Reactive Ion Etch (DRIE) or Advanced Silicone Etching (ASE)        using an Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP), resulting in deep        vertical pores down to the depth of the buried oxide layer.    -   4. The silicon surface is coated with silicon nitride using LowA        Pressure Chemical Vapour Deposition (LPCVD) or Plasma Enhanced        Chemical Vapour Deposition (PECJD).    -   5. The opposite side of the wafer (the bottom side) is coated        with photoresist and a pattern containing the membrane defining        openings in the silicon nitride is transferred to the        photoresist through exposure to UV light.    -   6. The silicon nitride is etched away on the bottom side of the        wafer in the regions defined by the openings in the photoresist,        using Reactive Ion Etch (RIE).    -   7. The wafer is etched anisotropically in a KOH or TMAH        solution, resulting in a pyramidal opening on the bottom side of        the wafer. The buried oxide will act as an etch stop for the        process, hence thickness of the topside silicon layer defines        the thickness of the remaining membrane.    -   8. The exposed regions of the buried oxide layer are removed        through RIE, wet hydrofluoric acid (HF) etch, or HF vapor etch.        This will ensure contact between the top and bottom openings in        the wafer.    -   9. RIE on rear side, removing the Si-nitride mask on the rear        side of the wafer and opening the rear end of the aperture.    -   10. RIE on front side, removing the Si-nitride on the front side        leaving a protruding Si-nitride rim on the orifice.    -   11. The silicon is coated with silicon oxide, either through        thermal oxidation, with plasma enhanced chemical vapor        deposition (PECVD) or with LPCVD.        Alternatively the substrate can be fabricated through the        following process:    -   1. Starting substrate: silicon on insulator (SOI) with a buried        oxide layer located 1-50 μm below the top surface.    -   2. One surface of the silicon is coated with photoresist and the        pattern containing the aperture locations and diameters is        transferred to the photoresist through exposure to UV light.    -   3. The aperture pattern is transferred to the silicon with Deep        Reactive Ion Etch (DRIE) or Advanced Silicon Etching (ASE) using        an Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP), resulting in deep vertical        pores down to the depth of the buried oxide layer.    -   4. The silicon surface is coated with silicon nitride using Low        Pressure Chemical Vapour Deposition (LPCVD) or Plasma Enhanced        Chemical Vapour Deposition (PECVD).    -   5. The opposite side of the wafer (the bottom side) is coated        with photoresist and a pattern containing the membrane defining        openings in the silicon nitride is transferred to the        photoresist through exposure to UV light.    -   6. The silicon nitride is etched away on the bottom side of the        wafer in the regions defined by the openings in the photoresist,        using Reactive Ion Etch (RIE).    -   7. The wafer is etched anisotropically using Deep Reactive Ion        Etch (DRIE) or Advanced Silicon Etching (ASE) using an        Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP), resulting in vertical cavities        on the bottom side of the wafer. The buried oxide will act as an        etch stop for the process, hence thickness of the topside        silicon layer defines the thickness of the remaining membrane.    -   8. The exposed regions of the buried oxide layer are removed        through RIE, wet hydrofluoric acid (HF) etch, or HF vapor etch.        This will ensure contact between the top and bottom openings in        the wafer.    -   9. RIE on rear side, removing the Si-nitride mask on the rear        side of the wafer and opening the rear end of the aperture.    -   10. RIE on front side, removing the Si-nitride on the front side        leaving a protruding Si-nitride rim on the orifice.    -   11. The silicon is coated with silicon oxide, either through        thennal oxidation, with plasma enhanced chemical vapor        deposition (PECVD) or with LPCVD.

REFERENCES

-   Mayer, M (2000). Screening for bioactive compounds: Chip-based    functional analysis of single ion channels & capillary    electrochromatography for immunoaffinity selection. Ph.D thesis,    Lausanne.-   Neher, E (2001). Molecular biology meets microelectronics. Nature    Biotechnology 19:114.-   Penner, R (1995). A practical guide to patch clamping. In:    Single-Channel Recording. (Ed. E Neher) Plenum Press, New York,    London.-   Rae, J L and Levis, R A (1992). Glass technology for patch clamp    electrodes. Methods Enzymol. 207:66-92.-   Simons, K and Toomre, D (2000). Lipid rafts and signal transduction.    Nature Reviews 1:31-41.-   Madou, M., “Fundamentals of Microfabrication”, 2nd Ed    (December 2001) CRC Press; ISBN: 0849308267-   Laermer F.; Schilp, A., “Method of anisotropically etching silicon”,    Patent DE4241045 (also U.S. Pat. No. 5,501,893, WO94/14187)

1. A substantially planar substrate for use in patch clamp analysis ofthe electrophysiological properties of a cell membrane comprising aglycocalyx, wherein the substrate comprises an aperture having a rimdefining the aperture, the rim being adapted to form a gigaseal uponcontact with the cell membrane, the rim protruding from the plane of thesubstrate to a height in excess of the thickness of the glycocalyx. 2.(canceled)
 3. A planar substrate according to claim 1 wherein the rimprotrudes from the plane of the substrate to a height of at least 20 nmabove the surface of the planar substrate, preferably at least 30 nm, atleast 40 nm, at least 50 nm, at least 60 nm, at least 70 nm, at least 80nm, at least 90 nm or at least 100 nm.
 4. A planar substrate accordingto claim 1 wherein the width of the rim is in the range of 50 to 200 nm.5. A planar substrate according to claim 1, in which the length (i.e.,depth) of the aperture is between 2 and 30 μm, preferably between 2 and20 μm, 2 and 10 μm, or 5 and 10 μm.
 6. A planar substrate according toclaim 1 wherein the diameter of the aperture is in the range of 0.5 to 2μm.
 7. A planar substrate according to claim 1 wherein the rim extendssubstantially perpendicularly to the plane of the substrate.
 8. Asubstrate according to claim 1 wherein the rim forms an oblique anglewith the plane of the substrate.
 9. A substrate according to claim 1wherein the rim is substantially parallel to the plane of the substrate.10. A substrate according to claim 1 wherein the rim is defined by amouth of the aperture, which mouth has a radius of curvature between 5and 100 nm with an angle of 45 to 90 degrees.
 11. A planar substrateaccording to claim 1 wherein the substrate is made of silicon, plastics,pure silica or other glasses, such as quartz and Pyrex™, or silica dopedwith one or more dopants selected from the group of Be, Mg, Ca, B, Al,Ga, Ge, N, P, As.
 12. A planar substrate according to claim 11 whereinthe substrate is made of silicon.
 13. A substrate according to claim 1wherein the surface of the substrate and/or the walls of the apertureare coated with a second coating material.
 14. A substrate according toclaim 13 wherein the coating material is silicon, plastics, pure silica,other glasses such as quartz and Pyrex™, silica doped with one or moredopants selected from the group of Be, Mg, Ca, B, Al, Ga, Ge, N, P, As,or oxides of the same.
 15. A substrate according to claim 11 wherein thecoating material is silicon oxide.
 16. A method of making asubstantially planar substrate for use in patch clamp analysis of theelectrophysiological properties of a cell membrane comprising aglycocalyx, wherein the substrate comprises an aperture having a rimdefining the aperture, the rim being adapted to form a gigaseal uponcontact with the cell membrane, the method comprising the steps of (i)providing a substrate template; (ii) forming an aperture in thetemplate; and (iii) forming a rim around the aperture such that the rimprotrudes from the substrate to a height in excess of the thickness ofthe glycocalyx.
 17. A method according to claim 16 wherein the substrateis manufactured using silicon micro fabrication technology.
 18. A methodaccording to claim 16 wherein step (ii) comprises forming an aperture byuse of an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) deep reactive ion etchprocess.
 19. A method according to claim 16 further comprising the stepof coating the surface of the substrate.
 20. A method according to claim19 wherein step (iii) is performed at the same time as coating thesubstrate.
 21. A method according to claim 19 wherein step (iii)comprises an intermediate step of a directional and selective etching ofthe front side of the substrate causing a removal of a masking layer onthe front side of the substrate, and further proceeding the prescribedprotrusion distance into the underlying substrate.
 22. A methodaccording to claim 19 wherein the coating is deposited by use of plasmaenhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) and/or by use of lowpressure chemical vapour deposition (LPCVD).
 23. A method according toclaim 22 wherein the coating is deposited by use of plasma enhancedchemical vapour deposition (PECVD).
 24. A method according to claim 18wherein step (iii) comprises forming a rim from a deposited surfacecoating by use of plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD).25. A method for analysing the electrophysiological properties of a cellmembrane comprising a glycocalyx, the method comprising the followingsteps: (i) making a substantially planar substrate for use in patchclamp analysis of the electrophysiological properties of a cell membranecomprising a glycocalyx, wherein the substrate comprises an aperturehaving a rim defining the aperture, the rim being adapted to form agigaseal upon contact with the cell membrane, the method comprising thesteps of (a) providing a substrate template; (b) forming an aperture inthe template; and (c) forming a rim around the aperture such that therim protrudes from the substrate to a height in excess of the thicknessof the glycocalyx; (ii) contacting the cell membrane with the rim of anaperture of the substrate such that a gigaseal is formed between thecell membrane and the substrate; and (iii) measuring theelectrophysiological properties of the cell membrane.
 26. A kit forperforming a method according to claim 25, the kit comprising asubstantially planar substrate for use in patch clamp analysis of theelectrophysiological properties of a cell membrane comprising aglycocalyx, wherein the substrate comprises an aperture having a rimdefining the aperture, the rim being adapted to form a gigaseal uponcontact with the cell membrane, the rim protruding from the plane of thesubstrate to a height in excess of the thickness of the glycocalyx andone or more media or reagents for performing patch clamp studies. 27-29.(canceled)